7+(:$5'5220&/8% Monthly Newsletter Into Our Second Century · Organized 1899 · , www.wardroomclub.org

Board of Governors President ...... CAPT Jules B. Selden, USMC (Ret) Vice President ...... CAPT Randall D. Preston, USN (Ret) Secretary ...... CAPT Mary Jo Majors, NC, USNR (Ret) Treasurer ...... CAPT Carl R. Mockler, USCG (Ret) Member-at-Large ...... MAJ Richard D. Brown, USMCR (Ret) Active Service Liaison ...... CAPT James B. Millican, USCG Immediate Past President ...... CAPT Robert D. Holland, USN (Ret) Wine Steward ...... Mr. Reid Oslin Chaplain ...... COL John W. Steiner, USAR (Ret) Assistant Secretary ...... CDR Myles J. McCabe, USNR (Ret) Assistant Treasurer ...... Col David F. Wall, USMCR (Ret) Historian ...... LCDR John H. Lok, USNR (Ret) Newsletter Editor ...... LCDR David W. Graham, USNR (Ret)

APRIL 2016 NEWSLETTER

MEETING DATE: WEDNESDAY – 20 APRIL 2016 (Please note: Third Wednesday of the month) LOCATION: Coast Guard Base Boston 427 Commercial Street Boston, MA – The Function Hall TIME: Social Hour from 1800 Dinner at 1900 PRICE: Members, Guests and Prospective Members of the Class of 2016 - $45.00 Walk-ins - $50.00 PROGRAM: BING WEST – “The Eternal War in the Middle East” ENTRÉE: CHICKEN TENDERLOIN

MESSAGES FROM THE PRESIDENT

I am told that the March meeting was terrific! Unfortunately, I was unable to attend due to some scheduling complications. However, Randy Preston, who acted on my behalf during my absence, as our VP did report to me that it was a wonderful program. Additionally, I am also grateful to our March guest speakers; Annie Cotton, Larry Decuers and Michael Carroll, all of whom hail from the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. They made a tremendous presentation on both the Museum and the Battle of Midway! I also want to extend my appreciation to club member Mel VP, Randy Preston and Guest Speakers from the National Rines, who did much of the necessary coordination on Museum of WW-II. (L to R) Michael Carroll, Randy, Annie Cotton and Larry Decuers. behalf of the Wardroom Club and the folks in New Orleans. Photo credit: CDR John H. Cahill, MC, USNR Our April meeting will see a return to the Wardroom Club of Francis J. “Bing” West who is an American author and former Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs during the Reagan Administration. Bing will talk with us on matters relating to the Middle East and its ongoing war effort. Please permit me a final-final word on the 2016 Wardroom Club dues process. Simply put, time has run out for those who have failed to renew their dues for this year. Following several repeat reminders, we have taken their names off the newsletter mailing roster and have placed them on a stand-by list for one year. Should any choose to re-join the club during that period, submitting a 2016 dues check will be all that is necessary for coming back into the club. Beyond this year, our errant dues-payers may re-join the club through the normal “Class of 20xx” process. Having said that, I will further say that we didn’t want to lose a single member, if it could have at all been avoided! However, this has been the long-standing process and it must be upheld. Lastly, big round of applause also goes to Mary Jo Majors for all her many “behind-the-scenes” efforts on behalf of our March meeting!

Jules B. Selden, President 23 Hemlock Drive Norwell, MA 02161 E-Mail: [email protected] Daytime Phone: 617/645-4197

NOTES FROM THE VICE-PRESIDENT

Our nearly year-long process involving the Class of 2016 is now rapidly drawing to a close. During the 20 April dinner-meeting, candidates for membership in the Class of 2016 will face the customary election process. After being voted in by the attending club members during the April meeting, each candidate will be expected to pay an initiation fee of $50 and 2016 club dues of $50. It is recommended each prospective member bring a check to the meeting in the amount of $100, made payable to “The Wardroom Club”. Once the voting has been accomplished and these two items have been paid, club membership will commence for the individual members of the Class of 2016. For the information of the Wardroom Club membership, your Board of Governors has already held an indoctrination for the prospective members of the class of 2016 at Lucia’s Restaurant in Boston’s North End. The indoctrination provided each new member with an opportunity to meet face-to-face with the Board of Governors and to gain an insight into how the club operates. I emphasize this process to make you aware that the Board of Governors remains serious about its future members. Here then are the members of the Class of 2016:

Candidates for Regular Membership CAPT Michael Antonellis USCG (Ret) LCDR Kevin Brown USN CAPT Stephen Castinetti USNR (Ret) Capt. Robert Cipriani USMC CAPT William Dobbs USNR (Ret)

2 LT Daniel Holland III USNR LtCol Gregg Lysko USMCR Capt. Robert Nelson USMCR LT William Palmisciano USNR CAPT John Shea USNR (Ret) CDR Theodore Smolen USNR (Ret) LT Sean Tucker USN Capt. Andrew Walsh USMC LT Michael Yogg USNR

Candidates for Associate Membership Corporal G. West Saltonstall USMC

Following the election of these prospective members of the Class of 2016, the entire process will start again, but this time for the Class of 2017. Application forms can be found on the club’s website www.wardroomclub.org under “Nominations for Membership”. Please note that candidates for membership are required to attend no less than two regular monthly meetings of the club, during which the candidate’s sponsor must have introduced his/her candidate to the Board of Governors. Should you have any questions relating to the nomination process, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Randall D. Preston 126 George Hill Road Grafton, MA 01519-1416 E-Mail: [email protected] Phone: 508-839-9080 Daytime Phone: 617-955-6725

A NOTE FROM THE CLUB ASSISTANT TREASURER We are now beyond LAST CALL!!! As the Wardroom Club President has already indicated above, the turn of the calendar into the month of April has placed the members who have not paid their 2016 dues, onto a stand-by category for the remainder of the 2016 calendar year. Come 1 January 2017, those who have failed to pay dues for 2016, will be dropped from the Wardroom Club roster. We truly wish this process would be unnecessary - - - but not enforcing it for the few who remain unpaid, would be extremely unfair to those of us who have. For the great many who did pay their dues this year, WE ARE GLAD YOU ARE WITH US!!!

Col. David F. Wall, USMCR (Ret) WRC Assistant Treasurer 55 John Goffe Drive Bedford, NH 03110 [email protected] Phone: 603/393-5285

3 CLUB NOTES

NOTABLE APRIL DATES AND EVENTS – (A series that is contributed monthly by Past President CAPT Harry H. Weinberg, SC, USN - Ret)

April is one of our nation’s most significant months, as you will note below. The incubation of our great nation began with Lexington and Concord. While an important aspect of the holiday, the celebration of Patriots Day is much more than the running of the Boston Marathon.

The month of April was dominated by the deaths of two great Presidents. In 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth in Ford’s Theater at Washington, DC on the evening of 14 April and subsequently passed away at 7:22 AM the following morning. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt died of a cerebral hemorrhage in Warm Springs, GA on 12 April 1945 shortly after 1:00 PM. Both deaths had the country in a state of shock. People lined the train routes as their caskets were carried to their final resting places. Also in this month two World War II Axis powers dictators, Adolph Hitler and Benito Mussolini died; one by his own hand and the other by execution at the hands of his very own people. There followed no public mourning for these two representatives of evil.

April also saw the beginning of four wars and the end of three for the United States. The American War of the Revolution, the US Civil War, the Spanish-American War and World War I all began in this month. The American Revolution officially ended in April, while the and Persian both cease during the month of April.

10 April 1963 was the day the USS Thresher was lost during sea trials that followed a dry-docking and overhaul at the Portsmouth, NH Naval Shipyard. All hands including several shipyard workers checking out repairs were lost. A sad day indeed for the submarine service in a month that celebrates its birthday.

April also saw a major addition to the role of the Coast Guard when the Navy provided additional ships for law enforcement. Beware, rum runners.

Year Date Event 1775 19 American Revolutionary War begins at Lexington & Concord MA. 1778 22 Captain J. P. Jones of Ranger leads landing party into Whitehaven, England. 1783 11 Congress declares end of war with Britain 1797 03 Captain Thomas Truxton issues first American signal book using the time-honored numerary system. 1798 30 Navy Department and Office of SECNAV created. 1861 13 Ft. Sumter surrender; Navy ships evacuate garrison. Civil War begins. 1862 06 Naval gunfire helps save Union troops at the Battle of Shiloh. 1865 14 President Lincoln assassinated. Dies the following morning. 1869 26 Congress creates Navy Good Conduct Medal for enlisted personnel. 1893 01 Rate of Chief Petty Officer created – and we know who runs the navy. 1898 21 The Spanish–American War begins. 1900 11 Navy buys submarine Holland VI; US Navy Submarine Force Birthday. 1911 12 LT. Theodore Ellyson qualifies as first naval aviator.

4 1914 22 US Naval Brigade takes Vera Cruz, Mexico. 1917 06 US declares war on Germany to begin US WW-I involvement. 1918 23 USS Stewart destroys German submarine off coast of France. 1924 21 Navy turns ships over to Coast Guard for law enforcement. 1933 04 RADM Moffitt, the “Father of Naval Aviation” dies in crash of airship AKRON. 1941 10 US occupies Southern Greenland. 1941 13 USSR/Japan sign a neutrality treaty. 1942 03 Admiral Nimitz named CINC, Pacific Area in addition to CINCPACFLT. 1942 09 US & Filipino troops surrender; “Bataan Death March” begins. 1942 18 USS Hornet launches Doolittle raid on Japan. First US strike on the Empire. 1942 20 USS Wasp (CV-7) launches 47 British aircraft to reinforce Malta. First known US action in Malta’s defense. “Ancients” appreciate this. 1944 28 Germans sink two LSTs in D-Day rehearsal off England. 749 men die. 1945 01 D-Day; The Okinawa invasion. 1945 07 World’s largest Battleship Yamoto sunk in Battle of East China Sea. 1945 12 FDR dies. Harry S. Truman becomes President. 1945 16 USS Laffey (DD-724) repels 22 Kamikaze attacks. Serves as museum ship at Patriots Point, SC. 1945 23 USS Eagle torpedoed & sunk off Portland, ME. It takes US Navy over 60 years to acknowledge the event. 1945 28 Benito Mussolini executed by Italian partisans. 1945 30 Hitler commits suicide. 1947 16 Congress gives Navy Nurse Corps members Commissioned rank. 1948 05 NATO established. 1951 02 First jets used as bombers launched from USS Princeton. 1952 26 USS Hobson (DD-464/DMS-26) sinks after collision with USS Wasp (CVS-18); 176 lives lost. 1963 10 USS Thresher (SSN-593) lost off Isles of Shoals with crew of 129. 1965 28 Dominican Republic intervention begins. 1970 11 Apollo 13 commanded by Captain Lovell, USN, launched on its harrowing mission that lasted 5 days and 22 hours. 1975 30 Vietnam War ends for US forces. 1981 12 First US space shuttle launched. 1986 15 Navy aircraft from two carriers attack Libya after Libya is linked to bombing of a West Berlin discotheque killing and wounding American servicemen. 1988 18 Navy destroys Iranian surveillance platform, one frigate and one patrol craft in retaliation for attack on USS Samuel B Roberts on 14 April. 1991 11 UN cease fire ends Persian Gulf War.

5 TAPS –

Never a pleasant column about which to write, the inclusion of these fine gentlemen in this month’s column is made even sadder for your editor who, over the years, had become friendly with them all –

LCDR RICHARD D. HILL, USNR – Known for his dry humor and penchant for the understatement, Dick Hill joined the club back in 1995, having first served a stellar career in the Boston banking business. Following graduation from Dartmouth (’41), Dick started with the First National Bank (of Boston) in the summer of 1941. Following his WW-II commissioned naval service with a bomb-disposal unit in the Pacific, Dick returned to Boston banking where he rose to guide what was to be the Bank of Boston as CEO, into eventually becoming the Bank of America. During his career, Dick Hill established a legacy for being one of New England’s most influential financial leaders. A devoted skier who loved the ocean, Dick passed away on 8 March at the age of 96.

LT EDWIN M. KNIGHTS, JR., MC, USNR (RET) – While details of Dr. Knights’ passing are unknown at this time, Ed’s name was Dick Hill (right) spoke at a Boston ground- mentioned as “In Memoriam” within the Spring 2016 edition of breaking for the First National Bank building along with then-Mayor Kevin “THE COMPACT”, the newsletter of the Massachusetts Society of White. “He really cares about the city,’’ said Mayflower Descendants. Ed resided in Nashua, NH and became a club the mayor. member in 2004.

CWO RICHARD T SHANNON, USCG (RET) – Known to his many friends as “Red”, we lost Red Shannon on 21 March 2016 at the age of 81. Red Shannon led a truly fascinating Coast Guard career, initially within the enlisted ranks where he rose to CPO before accepting his commission as a Warrant Officer. Red was the CO of many small Coast Guard vessels including the USCG Buoy Tender “White Lupine”, homeported at Rockland, ME. Without question, Red’s most prominent assignment was from 1981 to 1987 when he served aboard the Coast Guard Academy’s 295-foot Training Barque “Eagle” as On the fantail of Barque Eagle at sunset, ‘Red’ Shannon guides Officer Candidate Paul DeSalles on sextant use, 26 her Chief Warrant Officer and the ship’s sailing master. March 2014. Shannon is a legendary sailor and former Red Shannon resided in Lowell, MA and had joined the Sailing Master for Eagle (1981-1987). Wardroom Club in 2009.

Though our hearts lay heavy in sorrow, as you depart from here, May we take a brief moment, to picture the memories we all have shared. And as we hold our breath, let us sip from that goblet of life, For the sips that we take, will strengthen our hope, They will serve forever as your guide and your light.

Anonymous 6 A NOTE FROM YOUR NEWSLETTER EDITOR – Input by you to the newsletter editions will always be appreciated. As we have stated in the past, you don’t need to be a wordsmith to submit an article, as your editor can handle the matter. Should you have something of interest, I can either be reached at my e-mail address or you may call me on myIPhone in the event you have anything to offer for an upcoming edition of our club newsletter. Both methods are listed below. One way or the other, I am certain we can make whatever you may have, work very well.

David W. Graham, Newsletter Editor E-Mail: [email protected] IPhone: 617/335-2198 (with voice-mail)

A NOTE FROM THE 2016 NOMINATING COMMITTEE - Last call - This year’s Nominating Committee is in the midst of soliciting names of club members who may be willing to serve on the Board of Governors during the 2016-17 season. There can be no better way of getting to know how the club “ticks”, than to serve as a member of the Board. You are encouraged to contact me if you have an interest in serving on the Nominating Committee’s upcoming slate. While several positions have already been filled with candidates for voting at the May Annual Meeting, there should be no reason for not submitting your name. If not acted upon this year, names may be held in reserve for the next season.

Robert J. Zemaitis, Chairman 2016 Nominating Committee 101 Pleasant Street Leicester, MA 01524-1417 E-Mail: [email protected] 508/892-3055

TWO FACETS FROM THE CLUB HISTORIAN’S ARTICLE In his article below, John Lok makes mention of two items that may be of interest to our April Newsletter readership. The first involves the Tanker SS “Manhattan”, which was built as an oil tanker constructed at the Fore River Shipyard in Quincy that became the first commercial ship to cross the Northwest Passage in 1969. Having been built as an ordinary tanker in 1962, she was refitted for this voyage with an icebreaker bow in 1968–69. Registered in the United States at the time, she was the largest US merchant vessel as well as the largest icebreaker in history. Manhattan’s route began in August 1969 on the east coast of North America and transited the passage from east to west via the Baffin Sea and Viscount Melville Sound. Heavy sea ice blocked the way through McClure Strait, so a more southerly route through Prince of Wales Strait and south of Banks Island was used. A single, token barrel of crude oil was loaded at Prudhoe Bay and then the ship went back. She was escorted by the Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker CCGS John A. Macdonald. At various supported by the icebreakers CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent, USCGC Staten Island, and USCGC Northwind. 7 This route through the Northwest Passage was rather controversial in international relations, as sovereignty of these waters has long been claimed by Canada and this claim has been disputed by the United States. The Government of Canada has defined all waters in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago as being “Canadian Internal Waters.” The voyage prompted passionate discussions in Canada about that country’s sovereignty in the Arctic, a topic that dominated Arctic policy formulated under Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau’s administration throughout the 1970s. At one point during the voyage, Inuit hunters on ice stopped the ship and demanded that the vessel’s master ask permission to cross through Canadian territory - - - which he did, and was granted. However, the bigger question was whether passage can be considered an international strait - - - or not. The official reason for the voyage evolved around oil that had been discovered at Prudhoe Bay in 1968. Oil companies reasoned that sea transport of oil by icebreaking supertankers would be cheaper than the building of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System to Valdez. A second attempt to cross the passage in winter proved impossible and there were numerous environmental concerns with the project. So in the end, it was cancelled and the Trans-Alaska pipeline was then built. The second facet of John’s article involves the then West German Navy Destroyer “Rommel”. Built as one of three Lütjens-class guided-missile destroyers, a modified version of the American Charles Francis Adams-class, she was constructed for the West German Navy during the 1960s. Her keel was laid down on 22 August 1967 at the Bath Iron Works with the designated hull number DDG-30. She was launched on 1 February 1969, and christened the “Rommel” at the Boston Naval Shipyard by Frau Lucie Rommel, widow of Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel, on 2 May 1970. Following commissioning, “Rommel” was added to the West Germany’s First-Destroyer- D-187 “Rommel” during sea trials off the Coast of Maine - 1970 Squadron, based in Kiel. She operated for 28 years. On 30 September 1998, Rommel was decommissioned, mainly as the operating license for the boilers had expired and it was not considered efficient to refit her with new ones. She was subsequently towedto Wilhelmshaven where she was cannibalized for spare parts to support her two sister ships, Lütjens and Mölders. These two vessels continued to serve for five more years. In 2004 the hull of Rommel was towed to Turkey where her remains were scrapped.

MEMORIES FROM THE CLUB HISTORIAN William L. Kingman, who was our 17th Wardroom Club President whose term was 1969 – 1971, and is now our senior Past President of the Wardroom Club is this month’s look-back of some 45 years. With a date- of-entry into the club of March 1958, Bill, along with Robert G. White who entered the club in February of that year, are our most senior members in terms of length of club membership. It should be pointed out that Bill’s farther CDR Henry L. Kingman, USNR, “A member of long standing in the Wardroom Club”, seconded Bill’s nomination. CDR Kingman, at the time, was active in the Naval Reserve and a big promotor of the Navy. During Bill’s presidency, Henry Kingman was still attending club meetings. Some notable evenings were held during Bill’s presidency. These were held at the USCG Officers Club in Boston, membership totaled around 280.

8 To begin the 1969 year, the Wardroom Club’s second Ladies Night was held at the Charlestown Naval Yard, highlighted by a tour of the USS Constitution, concluding with the ceremony of Evening Colors at 1815 hours. The 100 attending members and guest then retired to the Officer’s Club for cocktails and a sumptuous dinner, where the entrée choice was Lobster or Roast Beef. These were offered at the princely cost of $4.00. Here are a few of the offerings from the club’s 1969-70 season: 20 October 1969 - RADM Joseph C. Wylie, USN, Commandant of the First Naval District, was our evening’s guest speaker. His most interesting and colorful presentation on the history and development of the compass rose, initially produced by the cartographers of the 11th through the 18th centuries, proved to be a most fascinating subject. Members and guests totaling 69 were in attendance. 17 December 1969 – Yet another outstanding Roast Beef and Plum Duff dinner was followed by member and guest speaker, Norris Hoyt - sailor, teacher, bon vivant, and raconteur. His subject on a cold and wintery evening was “An Irish Summer at Sea”, was thoroughly enjoyed by 120 members and guests - - - a near record for those long-ago days. 18 February 1970 – Our speaker was Captain Donald Graham, Staff Captain of the SS “Manhattan”, an Ice-Breaker Tanker, and one of three captains who took her from Philadelphia through the Northwest Passage to the Beaufort Sea and return. She was the first commercial ship to make the transit. There was reported heavy going in Artic ice at times. When jammed forward, the typical procedure was to back-down and then go ahead into the ice with both engines at full power - - and at about 6 knots. The ice-breaker bow would assist in crushing the ice. The presentation was illustrated with 16 mm color-movies and 35 mm slides. 114 were in attendance that evening. 20 May 1970 – Our Annual Meeting – The speaker was Fregatten Kapitaen Klaus Karl Stange, Commanding Officer of The West Germany Destroyer“Rommel”. The ship was built under contract at Bath Iron Works in Maine and commissioned at the Boston Naval Shipyard in Charlestown. His subject was the “Organization of Forces and the Buildup of the West German Navy”. That evening saw 90 in attendance for the meeting. Good times were indeed enjoyed by club members in those days of long ago.

John H. Lok – Club Historian E-Mail: [email protected] Phone Number: 508/525-7605 (Cell)

NOTES FROM THE CLUB SECRETARY

Happy Spring! I hope that we are finally over receiving any snow and will enjoy warmer weather soon!

The March meeting went very well and it was nice to see everyone again and thank you to all who wore their shamrock or Irish themed ties and a ‘bit of the green’ as well on their lapels! It was a colorful and joyful evening!

Meeting reservations: Please send me your response card as soon as possible after your newsletter arrives AND please take a minute to complete ALL the information requested on the card. Also, please contact me ASAP if your plans change to attend a meeting OR if you decide on short notice to attend since it helps to lessen the number of walk-ins at the meeting and for better preparation by the caterer and the Club to set up for us all. We want you to attend as many meetings as possible during the season.

9 Special meal requests: I ask you to please let me know as soon as possible if you would like a special meal substitute instead of the posted main entree so that I can inform the caterer at least forty-eight hours prior to the meeting date.

Parking: Attendees can always park on the USCG base and I provide the base security guards a complete list of ALL Wardroom Club member and expected guests for each meeting. Members and guests still need to show a valid photo ID at the gate-house prior to entrance onto the parking lot.

Look forward to seeing you this month! Take care and be well!

Mary Jo Majors, Secretary 30 Dudley Street North Cambridge, MA 02140 E-Mail: [email protected] Cell Phone: 617/285-2571

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